Consider horticulture as a hobby with many benefits and rewards. Regardless of what you grow, cultivating and caring for plants brings a special kind of satisfaction. This article lends a hand and gives pointers about growing plants and gardening.
Use both biennials and annuals to add color to your flower bed. The annuals and biennials are usually fast growing because they only last one season, and this will let you change the garden every season for a nice change of pace. You can also use these flowers to fill gaps between shrubs or perennials. You should get varieties such as cosmos, petunia, rudbeckia, hollyhock, sunflowers or marigold.
In the cold winter months, you can salvage certain plants by bringing them into the house. You can save the ones you spent the most money on or the ones that are resistant. Carefully dig around the rootball and replant in an appropriate pot.
A garden needs the right type of soil to grow properly. You can obtain a soil analysis for a nominal fee. Using that report, you can amend your soil as needed for a thriving garden. It is worth having this information so that crops do not get ruined. Most Cooperative Extension offices provide this service.
Remove your garden’s weeds! A vibrant garden will be overrun with weeds if they are left alone. White vinegar can be a good solution. Use it instead of chemical solutions to kill weeds. If you don’t want to take the time to remove the weeds by hand, simply spray them with a white vinegar solution.
If you want a strange, yet successful, green answer to getting rid of weeds, boil them to death. This is a safe way to eliminate weeds, as this will not damage the soil. Make sure to pour only on the weeds and to stay away from healthy vegetation. If you pour the water near your plants, it will kill the roots.
You can prevent pests using other plants or natural materials. Planting marigolds or onions around the border of your vegetable garden will help repel slugs. Wood ash can be used as mulch, and if put on the base of shrub and tree seedlings, will keep insects away. Natural remedies, like the ones listed, will help reduce the need and usage of harsh chemical pesticides.
If you want to grow peas, consider starting them indoors instead of planting them outside. When you plant them indoors first, the seeds will germinate better. They will also be stronger, and better equipped to resist disease and insects. When your plants are sturdy, move them outdoors.
Some people use horticulture as a source of relaxation. There are a variety of ways to find peace and relaxation on a personal level. Gardening is an excellent choice for calming your mind and soul. There are numerous returns based on a very small monetary investment. The best thing you will get out of it is peace and happiness knowing that you can grow your own garden.
More Gardening Ideas & Resources
As you read in the beginning of this article, horticulture is one hobby that can be truly rewarding. It can be from the beauty of having flowers growing, or the satisfaction of producing fresh vegetables, gardening has high benefits that never end. If you heed these suggestions, you can enjoy gardening more than ever.